Dual diagnosis facility

A dual diagnosis facility provides treatment for individuals suffering from psychiatric illness, accompanied by concurrent substance abuse. There is a common misperception that dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders are the same conditions. This is not the case. A co-occurring disorder is defined as the presence of two or more psychiatric issues, neither of which must be a substance abuse issue. In dual diagnosis, one of the concomitant conditions must be substance abuse, as stated, at the outset. It is critical for those diagnosed with a proper dual diagnosis condition obtain treatment from a dual diagnosis facility, which is capable of treating the condition.

Treatment in a dual diagnosis facility

a dual diagnosis condition is complex, due to the multiple and varying symptoms. Most of the time, one disorder mimics the symptoms of another. For instance, many of the symptoms of drug abuse, like depression, severe anxiety, delusions, and paranoia, are also similar to the symptoms of certain mental illnesses. Thus, in order to obtain a proper diagnosis, a dual diagnosis facility observes and assesses the patient until the real symptoms of psychiatric and emotional problems can be diagnosed by the proper professionals.

Integrated treatment

A person who is struggling with chemical dependency along with a mental illness needs a comprehensive dual diagnosis facility and program. Treating these issues separately is inappropriate for the dual diagnosis patient. The treatment facility must provide an individualized yet integrated treatment program that is able to address the mental disorder and the substance abuse problems, concurrently.

Medical and psychiatric treatment

A dual diagnosis facility should provide inpatient medical and psychiatric services. Inpatient treatment is usually recommended for dual diagnosis cases so the patient can be closely monitored.

Success rates

A dual diagnosis facility can be highly successful if its treatment and curriculum are tailored to the patients’ needs. No dual diagnosis facility is exactly the same as another. There are, however, certain standards of care and practice that should be met by all such treatment facilities who profess to be dual diagnosis treatment facilities. The directing psychiatrist should carefully determine the symptoms of a patient’s mental disorder in order to devise the appropriate treatment. The program also provides different kinds of support for the patient including medication management and primary treatment. All of these provide the right solution for the patient, enabling him to recover from his mental illness and substance abuse, simultaneously.

Where to go

A dual diagnosis facility should provide a supportive and comfortable environment. However, the quality, education, and expertise of the treatment team must be the priority in determining the effectiveness of a dual diagnosis facility.